This list isn't very long, but it's getting longer every year.
The first vehicle to earn the distinction of "Cars I Want to Hate...But Can't" was the BMW X5, and I still consider it the poster child for this category.
Why would I want to hate the BMW X5? Because it was slower, heavier, bulkier, thirstier, costlier and less space efficient than a BMW 5 Series wagon when it debuted in the late 1990s. The car made no logical sense on any rational level.
Then I drove one and quickly realized that, as slower, heavier, bulkier, thirstier, costlier and less space efficient 5 Series wagons go, the X5 was an awfully nice vehicle.
Since then I've experienced a similar love-hate relationship with several models, including the (new) Dodge Challenger, the Porsche Panamera and -- as of last Thursday -- the Honda Crosstour.
Each of these cars I was more than ready to hate when I first saw them on the auto show display stands, and not just for their questionable exterior designs. Philosophically I don't like the idea of unnecessarily tall, heavy wagons or sporty coupes based on full-sized luxury sedans or sports car makers trying to transport four people in a sporty manner. And I certainly don't like the idea of slicing the "crossover" definition as thin as possible in the hopes of creating a niche within an overused niche.
Unfortunately, in each of these cases the manufacturers have done such a tremendous job creating superb vehicles that I simply can't hate them -- philosophical issues be damned.
The Honda Crosstour is the latest. I drove it home last Thursday and within 10 minutes my determination to dislike the car began breaking down. I begrudgingly acknowledged its excellent ride and handling characteristics. I stopped denying its refined and powerful drivetrain. I succumbed to the reality of its supportive and comfortable seats. And yeah, its flexible people/cargo hauling options give it greater functionality than the Accord it's based on.
Oh, it's still got sedan/wagon gene splicing issues. Rear visibility suffers as you would expect with that sloping roofline. And, like the Accord, the center stack's button count can be intimidating at first.
Does the Crosstour make sense from a philosophical point of view? No. The Accord makes a better sedan and the Pilot makes a better crossover. The Crosstour appears to want to split the difference, meaning it's not as pure (or as effective) as either of Honda's fine alternatives.
So do I hate it? No, the Crosstour is too well executed and offers too much fun and functionality to hate. I actually really like it.
Dammit.
By bepperb
on November 3, 2009
07:45 AM
It will be interesting to contrast the Crosstour with the TSX Sportwagon, both in sales but also utility. I'm sure the Crosstour/Venza's are nice, but with little more utility than the sedan they're based upon and a premium price I'm not sure who is buying them. Is the only benifit a different and unique external appearance, and if so I think VW did a better job with the Passat/CC siblings. If a regular Camry/Accord is too bland for me, I'd rather have the utility of a wagon or a car that is actually good looking than a mashup of those two attempts in one.
By starbird
on November 3, 2009
07:49 AM
Or you could get a Saab 93 sportcombi for exactly the same price.
By yankeez
on November 3, 2009
08:50 AM
I'm not getting why you have this supposed love/hate relationship with the new Challenger. So it's a sporty coupe based on a full-size sedan... so what? Isn't the new Camaro based on the Holden G8 platform? The original Challenger was based on a shortened B-body chassis... point is, the LX platform may have its faults, but consider the alternative (the Challenger based on the FWD Avenger/Sebring chassis... too traumatic to even think about).
As a new Challenger owner, the now-worn-out term "it is what it is" certainly applies here. Is it too heavy? Yes. Is it too big? Some say yes, but I remind that the original was bigger than the comparable Mustang/Camaro, so its size doesn't bother me. It's a sporty-looking coupe that makes no apology for what it is. For its detractors, it shoots a subliminal middle finger with a look that says "up yours".
Which is precisely why I like it. :-)
By blackadder5639
on November 3, 2009
12:07 PM
Karl, I think I hate the X6 more, LOL! When a friend of mine told me it was his dream car, all I could say was "you like that thing?"
In what category would you place the X6?
By carlisimo
on November 3, 2009
12:10 PM
Interesting post - I'd love to see the opposite as well, cars you want to like but don't.
By estreka
on November 3, 2009
12:22 PM
Sooooooooo you like all the Accord elements but dislike most of the quasi-wagon aspects?
Let me ask you this: would you buy this over an Accord wagon? Accord sedan?
By billt9
on November 3, 2009
05:12 PM
bepperb,
The Venza is not based on any sedan.
It's as big inside as a full sized SUV, with 60" shoulder room.
So that means the Venza dwarfs the Crosstour, as the latter is Accord sized.
By billt9
on November 3, 2009
07:30 PM
What's the crossy part about this Crosstour?
It's no crossover, with a mere 6.0" ground clearance, same height as regular sedans/wagons.
The Venza rides 8.1", and a Subaru Outback has 8.7".
The crosstour gets to keep the "cross" moniker even when it crossed all the way down to a regular wagon?
By aznraptor
on November 4, 2009
05:29 AM
I second carlismo
By rsholland
on November 4, 2009
06:17 AM
The Crosstour is essentially a bulked up hatchback, nothing more. Like all hatcbacks, it's a cross between a sedan and a wagon. That's nothing new.
The only "practial" problem I have with it is the rear visibility is compromised. In fact the rear-quarter window is useless.
The only "styling" problem I have is that it is pretentious and somewhat forced.
The "biggest" problem I have with the car—is not the car itself—but rather the price, which equipped the way I would want it, would put it well north of $35K. For that price there are other (and better) options out there.
By bepperb
on November 4, 2009
07:03 AM
RSHolland, the big problem of the price is accompanied by weight as well. Maybe if it didn't weigh 4000 lbs, they could have used the 4cyl powertrain and came in under 26?
BillT9, come on. I own a Highlander, my parents own a Camry and a Solara. Trying to explain to me that the Venza (or my HL) isn't based on the Camry platform and is like "a full size SUV" is about as likely as convincing my black lab to become a vegetarian.
By technetium99
on November 5, 2009
11:37 AM
Venza isn't based on the Camry, it is based on the Avalon. (Which was at one time based on the Camry.) In fact when they first came out a local Toyota dealer had a commercial saying that the new Avalon wagon, the Venza, is now in stock! I strongly suspect that the corporate offices made them stop running that ad.
By rick8365
on November 6, 2009
10:18 AM
@RSH - Do you like the look and proportions of the new Outback?
By cruiserhead1
on November 7, 2009
10:04 AM
Karl,
as a car guy, i'm completely offended by your lack of shame in driving a car that ugly. ;)
Skirting some weird middle ground where no crossover, sedan or suv is and being so weirdly ugly while doing it.
With it's fat proportions, you found the Dame Edna of the automotive world.
By rsholland
on November 9, 2009
01:41 PM
@rick8365
"Do you like the look and proportions of the new Outback?"
No, I don't—but it's a better car in almost every measurable way than the car it replaces.
Funny thing here is I've earned my living in the world of design (I'm a graphic designer and part-time design educator on a college level) for over 30 years, yet I will always bow to function over "styling" when it comes to cars.
By presntlyaccord
on December 28, 2011
12:36 PM
Pontiac Aztek horrifyingly comes to mind when I see these cars...don't get me wrong I Looooooove Hondas - I own an 2002 Accord V6 sedan and I've never been happier...BUT when I first saw the Crosstour on the road, I bowed my head in disgust at how chunky and non-streamlined the overall design was - and to add to that the X5 and the other models mentioned which share this bulky mish-mash body styling are out there on the road too...yuck!
Personally I think the redesign of all the (4-door) Accord models from 2003 - present with the exception of the 2004's because I like their tail lights ... from 2005 on the taillight design makes me cringe